Too much salt

Ryan and I are completely opposite. Yet, together we are the perfect team. One of the ways we can see that we are definitely opposite is while cooking. For example: He sets a timer... I don't - I just have a nose that can smell when something is done. He likes lots of garlic and onions in his food... I don't. He will go to the grocery store in the middle of cooking for the minuscule missing ingredient... I will make do with what we have on hand. And the biggest thing - - - - - He follows the recipes precisely... I do, if I have all of the ingredients on hand. In other words, if something doesn't look right in the recipe, I happily alter it.

We haven't had too many disagreements since we have been married, but when we do disagree, it's usually about our methods in the kitchen. Of course resolution is needed when there are conflicts, so I've agreed to follow the recipes as closely as my cook's mind can and Ryan has agreed to show a little mercy when a recipe doesn't turn out 'just right.' Ah, the adventures in marriage!

Last Friday, Ryan asked me to season some steaks to be grilled. He showed me the recipe in his cookbook that came with the grill and asked me to follow it precisely and double it since there was double the meat. I complied and when he had gone to work, I got the recipe out for "The Perfect Steaks" and set to work. I pulled the spices out of the cabinet and looked over the recipe. "No way could this recipe call for 1/4 cup, which would be 1/2 cup of salt doubled!" I looked at the recipe again. And then again. And then again. Fighting the urge to fix the obvious mistake, I poured the 1/2 cup of salt in the bowl with the other ingredients and just cringed.

I told Ryan of the obvious mistake later that evening. He said, "As long as you followed the recipe, I'm sure it will be perfect." As Ryan took the first bite of his steak, I watched his face scrunch up and saw his hand go for his tea. "Whew! That is salty!" I looked over at him and smiled the sweetest smile I could smile and said, "Sometimes it's best to follow your gut feeling so you don't get a sick feeling in your gut from too much salt!"

I'm so thankful that God makes no mistakes and as I follow after Him, He is faithful and true. He has a perfect plan and longs to lead us, if we trust and let Him. I don't have to worry about wrong directions - His way is always perfect. I long to be like my Ryan and always follow His 'recipe' for life. Since His ways are perfect, there is no need to alter the 'ingredients' as I follow Him and I can always trust His heart!

Happy Tuesday!

Catherine